Document Recording in Oregon

Instrument Requirements • Witnesses are not required on either deeds or security instruments.

• County recording officers can refuse to record a document if it is not legible, ORS 205.130(2), and proper notarial acknowledgments are required for recorded documents. ORS 205.130(2)(a). If the notary block complies with Oregon law or the law of the state in which the notary is taken, it will be sufficient for recording in Oregon. Oregon acknowledgment forms are set forth in ORS 194.285.

• All instruments must be typed, written, or printed in 8-point type or larger on paper that is not larger than 14 inches long and 8-1/2 inches wide and which paper is of sufficient quality for recording photographically.

• There must be enough space for the recording sticker (4" x 2") to be placed in the upper right corner on the first page of the document.

• The first page of the instrument must contain at least (i) the name of the transaction (ORS 205.236), (ii) the names of the persons described in ORS 205.160, (iii) the person to whom and the address to which the recorded instrument should be delivered (ORS 205.180), (iv) the true and actual consideration paid for the transfer (ORS 93.030), (v) the person to whom and the address to which all tax statements should be sent (ORS 93.260), (vi) for County Clerk Lien Records, the information described in ORS 205.125 (1)(c) and (e), and (vii) for instruments that assign a mortgage or trust deed, the name and address of the assignee.

• As noted above, for instruments conveying or contracting to convey fee title to any real estate and all memoranda of such instruments, the true and actual consideration paid for such transfer must be stated, unless the actual consideration consists of or includes other property or other value given or promised, in which event it must only be noted on the face of the instrument that other property or value was either part or the whole consideration.